Materials Science and Engineering focuses on the development of new materials and new applications for materials in engineering. Current research programs include nanomaterials, nanostructures, nanoelectronics, nanodevices, nanocharacterization, device/system packaging materials, materials for fuel cells and related alternative energy systems, biocompatible materials, soft materials such as biological materials and polymeric materials, electronic and photonic materials, hybrid materials, interfacial engineering of materials, and multifunctional materials.

Faculty with relevant research are affiliated with the Integrated Nanofabrication Research Facility (INRF), the National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC), the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2), the Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP), and the Laboratory for Electron and X-ray Instrumentation (LEXI), among others.

The MSE graduate degree program is hosted by the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (ChEMS). Faculty who may serve as advisors are listed as affiliated with the ChEMS Department and include faculty with strong materials science and engineering research programs from other departments. The formal degree that is awarded upon successful completion of the program is either the M.S. or Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering.